KVĚTA PACOVSKÁ . Art as Sensory Playground

Until September 30, 2025

The exhibition presents a selection of works by Kvĕta Pacovská (Prague, 1928–2023), a key figure at the crossroads of visual art, graphic design, and illustration. Trained at the Academy of Applied Arts in Prague, Pacovská developed a singular artistic language influenced by Constructivism, the Bauhaus, and the European avant-gardes of the 20th century — particularly artists such as Paul Klee, Joan Miró, and Wassily Kandinsky.

Internationally acclaimed for her illustrated books, Pacovská redefined the boundaries of children’s literature. Starting in the 1990s, she created what she called “book-objects”: genuine museum spaces on paper, where color, form, and texture engage all the senses. These books are not merely read — they unfold, open in layers, and invite tactile exploration, becoming sculptural, multisensory experiences for readers of all ages.

In addition to her editorial work, Pacovská developed a prolific body of graphic and pictorial pieces — including silkscreens, collages, monotypes, drawings, and paintings on paper and canvas — where the same visual logic is expanded: a bold celebration of color, a free use of geometry, a constant inquiry into materials, and an ever-present spirit of experimentation. These works reveal her interest in rhythm, contrast, dynamic balance, and visual play as a universal language.

This is the second exhibition that Galería Jorge Mara – La Ruche has dedicated to the artist, this time featuring previously unseen graphic works, silkscreens, and monotypes, as well as unique pieces on canvas and paper. The show also includes a selection of her internationally awarded illustrated books. It offers an immersive journey into the visual universe of an artist who understood art as a space of freedom, imagination, and thoughtful play.

Awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Prize in 1992 and recognized with numerous international honors, Pacovská’s work is today celebrated as a vibrant bridge between literature, contemporary art, and design.